RINGGOLD, Ga. - The Ringgold High School football team's collective eyesight is just fine, thanks.
Rather than look past Sonoraville to next week's game at Rockmart, where the GHSA Region 6-AAA title will be on the line for both teams, the Tigers kept their gaze squarely on the visiting Phoenix on Friday night and rolled to a 40-7 triumph at Don Patterson Field.
Ringgold remained undefeated through nine games, with the win against Sonoraville (5-4, 3-4) the seventh in region play. Now the Tigers can turn their attention to Rockmart, still unbeaten in 6-AAA after a 38-30 win over LaFayette on Friday.
"We weren't looking ahead, because we knew Sonoraville had a very good football team," Ringgold coach Robert Akins said. "Rockmart has a great football team, but I think we've got a great football team, too.
"If we think about ourselves and how well we can play, we can go down there and play them a really good ballgame."
The Tigers effectively settled the matter early, scoring on their first three possessions – which started on their 46, their 49 and the Sonoraville 49, respectively. Kori Dumas went in first, from 7 yards out with 7:41 left in the first quarter.
Six minutes later, Ringgold quarterback Mason Parker found Jordan Wideman from 9 yards for the hosts' second touchdown. Then, with 8:25 left in the first half, Parker threw 24 yards to Jacob Garnica. Landon Eaker converted all three PATs, making it 21-0.
Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Ringgold football coach Robert Akins and his Tigers can finally turn their attention to Rockmart and the GHSA Region 6-AAA title showdown after Friday night's home win against Sonoraville.Sonoraville got on the board 1:48 before halftime when quarterback Jaxon Pate scored on a 9-yard keeper. The Phoenix didn't make a first down for the game's first 13 minutes.
"I thought our defense played lights out all night," Akins said. "[Pate] is 75 or 80% of their offense, and I thought our defensive guys put together a great scheme. We put pressure on him and were able to contain him."
Ringgold added two Eaker field goals - one from 35 yards just seconds before halftime, and another from 34 yards for the Tigers' first points of the second half. Ringgold's last two scores came on a 72-yard throw from Parker to Malachi Hill with 10:48 left in the game and on a 12-yard scamper by Dumas with 2:52 to go.
"Last week we were a little sloppy," Akins said of a 42-7 win at Coahulla Creek, "but I thought having a week off before that game made us sloppy. We were better tonight - we played a fine game, and I'm proud of our kids - but we'll have to be real good next week at Rockmart."
Contact Bob Gary at sports@timesfreepress.com.